Window-cleaning attachment



(No Model.)

B. 'FRITSCE WINDOW CLEANING ATTACHMENT.

No. 546,812. Patented Sept. 24, 1895.

FIG-.l. I FIGJZ.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

BENEDICT FRITSCH, OFVINOENNES, INDIANA, ASSIGNOROF ONE-HALF TO RICHARD MURPHY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.'

WIN DOW-CLEANING ATTACHMEN'Z SPECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent Ne. 546,812, dated September 24, 1895. Application filed Apri19,1894. Serialllo. 506 91. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may conccrn:

Be it known that 1, BENEDICT FRlTSCI- L a citizen of the United States, residing at' Vincennes, in the county of Knox and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Window-Cleaning Attachments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, reference being had to the annexed drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention comprises an attachment that can-be permanently Secured to a windowframe for the purpose of keeping the inner side of the glass perfectly clean, and also to prevent any accumulation of frost and ice thereon. The principal member of this attachment is ahorizontal pipe extending completely across the upper part of the frame, which pipe is slotted longitudinally or pierced with numerous small holes, the latter being so arranged as to discharge jets of water toward the glass and at a suitable downward inclination. A strip of cloth has its upper edge secured near the top of the windowframe, and is then carried down behind said perforated pipe, after which act the lower margin of said strip is drawn forward and held in close contact with the rear or inner side of the glass. By this arrangement the strip not only serves as a distributer that spreads the water thinly and evenly over the entire rear surface of the glass, but it also prevents the fluid being deflected back into the room or thrown on goods or other articles displayed in a show-Window. The flow of water to the upper pipe is effected by one or more vertical tubes secured to the sides of the frame, and a gutter at its lower end leads off the waste water to a suitable receptacle, as

hereinafter more fully described.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is an inside elevation of a window provided with my cleaning attachment. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, taken in the plane of the waste-pipe. Fig, 3 is an enlarged transverse section of the perforated pipe. Fig. 4 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 5 is a modification of the inventionr A represents a window-frame or fixed sash,

and B is a single glass or pane inmovably secured therein.

O is a narrow strip of cloth having its upper margin attached to the trame, while its lower portion isbrought down behind a pipe D and rectly against the inner side of the windowglass. Furthernore, these perforations are so arranged as to impart a slight downward projection to the jets, as seen in Fig. 3. Pipe D may be supplied with Water by means of a single vertical tube; but I prefer to use a pair of them, as seen at E F, cocks efbeing provided to regulate the flow.

E' F' are branches connected to these tubes, and e' f are cocks or caps of the same, which caps can be removed, so as to discharge into a 7 5 gutter or trough G, the latter being usually made of sheet metal and havingits ends closed, the only outlet to said gutter being a wastepipe g, communicating with a sewer or other receptacle for the water used in cleansing the So window. The sheet metal composing this trough is bent to serve as a hearing for the glass to rest in, as seen in Fig. 2, and'may also cover the exterior of the window-sill;

but in the modification seen in Fig. 5 this gutter, instead of being fitted in the sill, is made to occupy the platform H of a showwindow. To use this attachment the caps or cocks e' f' are first closed and then either one or both of the other cocks e f are opened to admit aproper supply of water to the pipe D, and as the jets issue from the ventages d they strike directly against the inner surface of glass B. Strip C now acts as adistributer and causes the water to spread evenly over the 5 entire surface of the glass and slowly pass down the same in the form of a thin transparent film that offers no obstruction to the light. This thin film, however, is sufticient to keep the glass perfectly free from flies, dust, Ioo

Strip C maybe from four to six 60 and other imgurities fioating in the air, while at the same time the constant flow of water tends to lower the temperature of the room lighted by the window. Again, this thin and constantly-flowing film prevents frost and ice accnmulating on the inner surface ot' the glass during cold weather. Owing to the pecnliar arrangement and location of the strips C there is no danger of Water being deflected back or away from the Window and falling upon goods or other articles displayed upon the Window-platform ll. If there should be any leakage from the pipe D after the snpplycool; is closed, the strip C Will arrest the Water and conduct it to the glass, thcreby preventing any actual waste and enabling the cleaning attachment to be operated With the least possible cost. The strip also acts as a strainer to arrest any impnrities contained in the water, and when said strip becomes sciled by constant use the tacl s c c' can be pnlled out to enable the cloth to be cleaned with a brush. By closing the cocks c' f and opening` the othcrcocks ef Water will traverse the pipes E D F and be discharged through the branch F', or this operation can be exactly reversed, so as produce the discharge at the branch E', either or both of which Operations will effectually fiush out the attachment and cleanse it of any sediment that may have accunulated therein. Finally, the pipes E F may communicate with astreet-main or other source ot' Water supply capable of affording the necessary pressure.

I claim as my invention.-

The combination of a frame having a glass fitted therein; a perforated pipe extending across the frame, at or near its top; means for snpplying water to said pipo; and a fiexible strip arranged in the rcar of the perforated pipe with its lower edge in contact With the glass, suhstantially as shown and described.

In testimony Whereof I aiTix my signature in presence of two witnesses. I

BENEDIOT FRITSCII.

Vfitnesses:

GEO. R. ALsor, HENRY J. BoEcKMANN. 

